Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!mcgill-vision!bloom-beacon!snorkelwacker!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military From: GSINCLAIR@VAXC.CC.MONASH.EDU.AU (Geoff Sinclair) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Fighter Classification Message-ID: <13783@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 7 Feb 90 02:38:35 GMT References: <13350@cbnews.ATT.COM> <13565@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: Computer Centre, Monash University, Australia Lines: 35 Approved: military@att.att.com From: Geoff Sinclair @vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au In article <13565@cbnews.ATT.COM>, our moderator writes: > > [mod.note: Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't Mosquitos generally > used as high-altitude aircraft ? For the early part of the war, > at least, they could fly higher and faster than the German night-fighters. > - Bill ] For the record the Mosquito existed in (at least) the following versions, Night Fighter, II, XII, XIII, XVII, XXX Unarmed Bomber IV, V, VII, IX, XVI, XX, XXV Fighter Bomber VI, XVIII (TseTse with 57mm gun) Photo Recon I (plus other marks) The Fighter Bomber versions were used for day strikes as well as intruders and anti shipping strikes. In the end, after considerable argument about risks of letting the Germans see the latest British radar, a few of the night fighters were used to escort night bomber formations. The Bomber versions were used in day and night attacks (The Light Night Strike Force), as well as pathfinders. The end of the war stopped a carrier based version from being developed. Even BOAC (now British Airways) used some to fly to Sweden. In summary the plane could simultaneously lay good claim to be the best night fighter, best light bomber, best fighter bomber, best photo recon and fastest war plane all at the same time. Low level attacks became a specialty of some Mosquito squadrons. In the end they became quite good at such strikes as bombing Gestapo occupied buildings, even bouncing the bombs off the roadway in front of the building and through the front wall. That way collateral damage was minimised. Geoff Sinclair Internet: GSINCLAIR@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au or GSINCLAIR@vaxc.cc.monash.oz PSImail: PSI%0505235621000::GSINCLAIR